Wool-washing machine



(No Model.) I 2 sheets-sheer 2. F. G. SARGENT.

WOOL WASHING MACHINE No. 433,582. Patented A.ug. 5,1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. SARGENT, OF GRANITEVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

wooL-wAsHlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 433,582, dated August 5, 1890. l Application filed March 25, 1889. Serial No. 304,658. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it mayconccrn:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. SAR- GENT, of Graniteville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vool-lVashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for washing wool and similar fibers; and it consists in certain new and useful constructions and combinations of the several parts thereof, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of a wool-washing machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same near the center of the bowl. Fig. 3 isa portion of Fig 1 enlarged to show the construction and operation of the parts more clearly. Fig. et is a like enlargement of the same parts of Fig. 2.

B is the bowl of the machine, in which the washing-liquor is expected to stand at about the height of the dotted line 1. It is provided with a feed-in apron F at one end and squeezerolls R R at the other end, which express the liquid from the wool as they deliver it from the bowl. This feed-in apron and these rolls are driven by pulleys on the ends of their rollshafts, which are not shown for the sake of clearness, and need no furtherdescription, as their Inode of operation is well understood. Within the bowl its bottom is inclined or pitched down toward the valves lU o, which are used to draw otf the fluid from the bowl after the washing is completed Vand to wash out the accumulated dirt and impurities. Above this bottom of the bowl is placed the false perforated bottom 2, which serves to allow the dirt or impurities to fall through it and sink to the bottom of the bowl as they are washed from the wool. This false bottom 2 extends the whole length of the bowl underneath the carrier-bed until it meets the upwardly-inclined bottom of the bowl, and the Huid iiowing through the carrier-bed, as hereinafter described, is separated by the false bottom from theA dirt which has settled bcneath the latter, and prevented by it from sucking the dirt into the outflow-'pipe and delivering it again upon the fiber. An overfiowdischarge pipe 3 is located near the squeeze- .bottom 2.

roll end of the bowl, extending through its bottom, and is provided with a valve or cover 4, which may be used to close it when desired. The upper end of this overflow-pipe is above the false bottom 2 and beneath the carrierbed, and fluid flowing out through it will flow toward it through the carrier-bed without i disturbing the dirt which has settled under the false bottom.

A rotary pump P is attached to one side of the bowl, and operated by thepulley 5 on its l shaft, which is belted to the pulley 6 ou the driving-shaft 7. This pump has an inlet-pipe 8 leading from the inside of the bowl below the inclined carrier-bed 9, and above the false perforated sheet of metal or wood inclined upward from the false bottom 2 to a point above the water-level and above the lower squeeze-roll R', where it is attached to a shelf 10. Another shelf 11 inclines downward from near the upper end of shelf l() to the lower squeeze-roll, so as to leave a space or opening 12 between the upper edge of shelf l1 and the lower edge of shelf 10, and a trough 13 is secured to the lower sides of the shelves 10 and 1l, so as to form, in conjunction with them, a long pipe extending transversely the whole width of the machine, and having its discharge-opening through the slot 12. A supply or inlet pipe 14 furnishes the liquid from the pump into the trough 13, thus causing a sheet of washing-fluid to be projected through the slot 12 over the surface of plate 11 toward the squeeze-rolls, and carrying the Wool downward toward the latter. Near the squeeze-rolls the plate ll is provided with slots 15 15 for the escape of the washing-fluid downward just before the wool enters between the squeeze-rolls. The fluid escaping through the slots 15 descends into a supplemental part of the bowl B.

From the pump l a pipe 1G leads alongside of the bowl B nearly its entire length, 'and the pipe let is connected to this. A branch pipe 17 connects the pipe 16 to a trough 18, which is partitioned off at the feed-in end of the bowl by the wall 19, upon the upper edge of which this end of the false bottom 2 is joined, so that the washing-fluid forced into the trough 18 shall overliow the upper edge of the wall 19 and run in a continuous sheet This carrier-bed is formed of a` along over the false bottom 2. A curved shield 2O extends across the bowl from side to side, slightly below the water-line from this end, in such a position that the feed-v apron F will deliver the wool in advance of it into the bowl, and the fluid overflowing from the trough IS toward the other end of the bowl will continually carry the wool under this shield and complete its submergence in the washing-fluid.

From the pipe 1G the pipes 2l, 22, and 23 extend upward and across the bowl above the shield 20, being closed at their opposite ends. Each of these pipes has a series of short jet-pipes 24 extending downward below the surface of the shield 2() and through the latter, and inclined toward the squeezeroll end of the bowl. The pipe IG has a valve l25 beyond the feed-in end of the bowl, by

which it can be closed at that point, and it has another valve 26, by which it can be shut off between its connection with the pipe I4 and the pump. When the bowl is filled with washing-Huid and the pump is set in motion, it continually draws the fluid through the pipe 8 from beneath the carrier-bed 9, and discharges it through the trough 1S and the pipes 2l 22 V23 and their jet-pipes 24 in the direction ot the carrier-bed with considerable force, and

., thus causes a iiow of the wasl'iingfluid continuously in that direction, carrying the wool forward over the false bottom 2 and subjecting it to the rinsing and soaking action of the jets of fluid on the way and lodging it upon the carrier-bed, where it is taken up by the carrier. The suction of the washing-fluid, which passes on through the perforations of the carrier-bed, leaving the wool behind it on the latter, tends to distribute the wool evenly on the lower part of t-he bed, which is exposed when the carrier moves upward, because as soon as any one perforation is covered by the wool the succeeding current fiows through other perforations yet uncoveredand deposits the wool vcarried by it there. The suct-ion of the fluid passing through the perforations also serves to hold the wool in this position while the carrier is returning` downward, to take it up on the next upward move- 4 ment, when the carrier strips the bed of its adhering wool and leaves it exposed, ready to collect another deposit before the carrier returns for it. In thus alternately clearing otf the bed and leaving it exposed for a fresh deposit of wool to adhere thereto, by the suction of the flow of the fluid through the perforations, it is desirable that the flow of the washing-fluid shall not be so great as to lodge niorewool agai nstthe bed than the perf orations will retain in position; but even in this event the average distribution of the fiber over the bed will be superior to ordinary constructions of the bed and carrier with no suction. This carrier has some peculiarities of construction which adapt it to take up the wool both when oating in the fiuid over the carrier-bed and when lodged upon the latter, 4which I will now describe. It is formed of a series of bars 30, rigid from end to end longitudinally of the machine and held together by crossrods 3l. In lugs upon its upper side are secured cross-rods 32, carrying upon their outer ends rollers 33, which in the upward motion of the carrier rest upon the inclined ways 34 34, formed on the edges of the bowl, so as to carry the carrier up parallelwith the carrierbed. In the lugs 35 35 on the upper end of the carrier are formed slots 36, through which passes the rod 37, having its ends firmly secured in the swinging links 38, which are pivoted to the cross-bar 39 below the bowl of the machine. The slots 3G are formed at nearly right angles tothe bed of the carrier. A crank-shaftv 40 passes through the pipesleeve 4l, which is attached tothe side of theA bowl and has attached to its outer end the. crank 42. A pitman 43 connects this crank to the rod 37, so that as the crank revolves the carrier will bemovedback and forth over the carrier-bed but since the ways 34 34 guide the carrier-parallel tothecarrier-bedit isnecessary that it should be lifted from these ways in its backward motion, which I accomplish as follows: 'lhrough the pitman 43 extends a bolt or shaft 44 horizontally, which projects for some distance beyond each face ofthe pitman, and has an enlarged head or end on each outer end. A double link 45 45 is attached by a pivot 4G to the upper side of the carrier, and has longitudinal slots in its upper ends embracing the neck or body part of the bolt 44 on each side of the pitman 43, the enlargement or head of the bolt serving the purpose of keeping each part of the link in place on the bolt. Through the upper ends of the double link set-screws 47 47 pass longitudinally of the link into the slots and bear upon the bolt 44, so as to shorten or lengthen the amount of play which the bolt 44 has in the slots of the link. These set-screws are so placedthat when the crank 42 has pushed the carrier up on its inclined ways it shall not begin to lift upward or pull on the link 45 until the carrier has completed its traverse up the inclines. The pivot 4G, by which -the IOO IIO

link 45 4is attached to the carrier, is so placed that the larger proportion of theweight of the carrier will be lbelow this pivot, and the operation of the mechanism is as follows: Vhen the revolution of the crank 42 has pushed the, carrier as far as possible up the inclined ways, the continued revolution of the crank in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, brings the bolt 44 against the ends of the set-screws 47 and begins to lift on the carrier.- As, however, the lighter end of the carrier is above the pivot 4G, this lifting will be in the first instance entirely upon the front end of the carrier until the lower sides of the slots 3G in the lugs 35 have been raised so as to come in contact with the rod 37, when the continuous lifting on the link 45 will raise up the back end of the carrier very rapidly. The

parts are so proportioned that all this lifting is substantially done while the crank is in the first part of its backward motion with relation to the carrier-bed, and therefore the carrier thus lifted bodily above t-he washingiluid is dropped down into it while the crank is making its descending motion and before it has begun its forward motion, substantially as shown in Fig. 4, the dropping of the carrier being of the rear end first and of the other parts of it successively toward the front end, thus preventing any swirl of the fluid from carrying the wool backward by dropping the forward part of the carrier first, or less than the rear part. The Wool is therefore caught effectively, whether floating' in the fluid above the carrier-bed or lodged upon the lower end of the latter, and carried upward at each stroke of the carrier without creating any currents which shall tend to wash the liber off the carrier-bed after it has been partially carried up by eue stroke of the carrier, and before it is taken another stage in its upward progress bythe next stroke. This is due to the fact that the rear end of the carrier remains down and holding the wool down in position upon the bed until the other parts are lifted preparatory to its backward motion.

The arms 38 have a counterweight 50, mounted upon an arm 5l, attached to their cross-shaft 39, Fig. 2, which balances the weight and pull of the carrier downward upon the ways and prevents undue strain upon the Working parts.

The end of the pipe 16 which projects beyond the feed-in end of the bowl is designed to be connected to an exterior source of pure water-supply having a head or pressure of Water. When it is desired to use the machine for rinsing the wool after its washing is completed, the washing-fluid is drawn oft', the pumpP stopped, and the overflow-pipe 3 opened. The valve 26 is then closed and the valve 25 opened, and the rinsing-water allowed to flow from its exterior source through the pipe 16, trough 18, and branch pipes 2l, 22, 23, and 14, and out through the overflow 3, when the wool is again put through the rinsing-Water thus suppliedfwhieh carries it by its currents through theiuachine in the same Way as the action of the pump did while washing the wool, and the rinsing-water is thus discharged out of the machine as fast as used, as it cannot be used over, as the Washing-Huid is in washing the wool.

The crank-shaft 40 is driven by the gearwheel GO on its outer end, which in turn is driven by a pinion on the inner end of the driving-shaft 7.

Under the false bottom 2 of the bowl B a transverse partition 6l is secured to the latter, so as to till the space underneath the false bottom entirely. This' partition prevents the currents of the washing-liquid from traversing the space beneath the false bottom, as the transverse partition is located between the feed-in end of the bowl and the carrier;

The space beneath 'the false bottom is thereby best adapted to receive and retain dirt Without having it carried forward in the bowl and mingled with the wool fibers near its feed-out end.

NVhat I claim as new and of my invention 1s l. In a machine for washing fiber, the combination of the bowl B, the squeeze-rolls R Rf at its delivery end, the inclined perforated carrier-bed extending from below the fluidlevel upward to said squeeze-rolls and arranged to deliver the liber moved along its uppersurface properly thereto, the reciprocating carrier arranged to move the ber along upon said bed to said squeeze-rolls, a pipe leading from beneath the inclined perforated carrier-bed and forming a fluid-outlet thereunder,'and a fluid-supply pipe arranged to deliver iiuid to the bowl on the feed-in side of said perforated carrier-bed and carrier, whereby the suction of the fluid fiowing through the perforations of said carrier-bed from said supply-pipe to. outlet-pipe is made to distribute the ber evenly over it, l i

and retain it there during the return movements of the carrier, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for Washing fiber, the combination of the bowl B, the squeeze-rolls R R at its delivery end, the reciprocating carrier and its inclined perforated bed arranged beneath it to convey the fiber from the bowl to said squeeze-rolls, aseries of delivery-pipes 2l, mounted upon the bowl and arranged to deliver fluid into the same and to project it through the bowl toward the carrier-bed, and pipes 1G and 2l, connected thereto and adapted to be connected toan outside water-supply i and to convey the same to said series of delivery-pipes, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for washing fiber, the combination of the bowl B, the squeeze-rolls R R at the delivery end thereof, the reciprocating carrier and its inclined perforated bed arranged beneath it to convey the ber from the bowl to said squeeze-rolls, the overow-pipe 3, a series of delivery-pipes 24, mounted upon the bowl and arranged to deliver Huid into the same and project it through the bowl toward the carrier-bed, the pump P, connected to the squeeze-roll end of the bowl by pipe 8, and the pipes 16 2l, connecting said pump to the said series of delivery-pipes and adapted to be connected to an outside source of iiuidsupply and provided with the valves 25 and 26, whereby the said pump may be shutoff from said series of delivery-pipes and said outside fluid-supply let on, or vice versa, su bstantially as described.

4. In a machine for washing flber,the combination of the bowl B, the squeeze-rolls R R at' its delivery end, the inclined perforated carrier-bed extending from below the fluidlevel upward to said squeeze-rolls and arranged to deliver the liber moved along its upper surface properly thereto, the recipro- IOO eating carrier arranged to move the fiber alongl upon said bed to said squeeze-rolls, the pipe 8 leading from. beneath the inclined perforated carrier-bed, the pump connected thereto, and the fluid-supply pipe 16 leading therefrom and having a discharge-outlet into the bowl on the feed-in side of said carrier and its perforated bed, whereby the suction of the fluid owing through the perforations thereof, when drawn from beneath said bed and delivered into the bowl on the opposite side thereof, is made to distribute the fiber evenly over it and retain it there during the return movements of the carrier, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for washing fiber, the combination ofthe bowl B, the squeeze-rolls R R at its delivery end, the inclined perforated carrier-bed extending from below the iiuidlevel upward to said squeeze-rolls and arranged to deliver the'tiber moved along its upper surface properly thereto, the reciprocating carrier arranged to move the fiber along upon said bed to said squeeze-rolls, the pipe S leading from beneath the inclined perforated carrier-bed, the pump connected thereto, a series of delivery-pipes 24 mounted upon the bowl and arranged to deliver uid into the same and project it through the bowl toward the carrier-bed, and pipes connecting the same to said pump, whereby the projected fluid owing through the perforations of the carrier-bed to the outlet-pipe is made to distribute the fiber evenly over it and retain it there during the return movement of the carrier, substantially as described.`

6. In a machine for Washing fiber, the combination of the bowl B, lthe squeeze-rolls mounted -at the delivery end thereof, the reciprocating carrier, the carrier-bed formedof the double inclined plates 9, 10, andv 1l, a fluid-'supply conduit beneath the angle formed thereby, provided with a discharge-opening 12, arranged to project a sheet of fluid over the plate 1l toward the squeeze-rolls, and a pipe connecting the same with a source of fluid-supply, substantially as described.

7-. ln a machine for washing fiber, the combination of the bowl B, the squeeze-rolls R R at the delivery end thereof, the inclined carrier-bed, aud the carrier moving on ways and provided with the slotted lugs at its forward end, the rod 37 moving therewith, the pitrnan 43, the crank 42 connected thereto, and the link 45, attached at one end to said pitman andV at the other end to said carrier above its longitudinal center of gravity, whereby the said carrier is lifted at its rear end last and dropped rear end iirst by the action of the crank, substantially1 as described.

8. The combination of the bowl B, its perfoi-ated false bottoni 2, having one end of it extending under the carrier-bed to thebottom of the bowl, the transverse partition 6l be- -neath the false bottom, a supply-pipe, ar-

ranged to supply fluid at the feed-in end of the bowl, the inclined perforated carrier-bed arranged to vhave the fiber moved along its upper surface up out of the fluid, the reciprocating carrier acting in conjunction therewith, and an outlet-pipe beneath the carrierbed and above the false bottom 2 at the feedout end of the bowl, substantiall y as described.

FREDERICK G. SARGENT.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. PLIMPTON, HERBERT V. HILDRETH. 

